Project Scope, Time and Cost

This subject is not offered in 2011.

This subject will develop fundamental knowledge in project and program scope planning, evaluation, and change management. Areas covered include project time planning, scheduling and controlling management; project cost estimating, budgeting and financial management; and integration management on building projects. Students will apply theoretical concepts to case studies in the built environment to devise holistic solutions to meeting strategic business objectives.

The subject comprises three elements: research and theory, application, and demonstration. Students are required to develop fundamental theoretical knowledge based on lecture and course materials and a range of online and print resources. Students will then work on applying this knowledge to problems/case studies considered in teams of 4-5. They will also undertake a larger-scale real-life case study project requiring students to devise holistic solutions to scope, time, cost and integration management issues.

Students will work in pre-assigned teams using access to an online team forum. They will discuss ideas, research, problems and issues on a regular basis with the subject coordinator and through participation in team interactions. A general subject discussion forum will also be available for students to raise issues and interact with the rest of the class and the subject coordinator/tutors. All learning materials and activities will be available online. Assessment submissions will be online in electronic format. Teamwork activities will be complemented by individual reports and online presentations allowing students to reflect on and highlight their personal research and contributions to team tasks.

The subject will be delivered using the Blackboard platform, where there will be a discussion forum and file exchange facilities for students to interact with peers as well as tutors and coordinators. The subject will have its own learning materials and resources section. The subject coordinator will provide the relevant learning material or appropriate references on-line for students to access. In addition to this, students will have full access to the University library for both on-the-shelf and electronic resources.

• Discuss the project management trade-offs on balancing the triple-constraint: Scope, Time and Cost;
• Explain the integrated cost and schedule control processes;
• Construct work breakdown structure (WBS) using given project information;
• Discuss scope monitoring and change control system;
• Produce networks diagrams for project scheduling;
• Apply critical path analysis (CPA) in network scheduling;
• Apply critical chain method in project scheduling;
• Estimate the project cost and duration;
• Apply resource scheduling techniques;
• Construct a time-phased budget plan;
• Discuss cost monitoring and control processes;
• Undertake earned value analysis (EVA); and
• Undertake integrated cost and schedule control processes using project management software (Microsoft Project or Primavera).

• Team Assignments, 60% (3000 words).
• Individual Final Report & viva presentation, 40% (2000 words).

1. Course materials.
2. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 3rd ed (2004), Project Management Institute (US).
3. The Handbook of Project Based Management, R. Turner.
4. Project Management: the managerial approach Meredith & Mantel, Wiley publication.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• An appreciation of the scope and dimensions of professional roles
• The ability to function effectively as either a team leader or member within multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams
• A commitment to, and fundamental appreciation of, the concept of successful teamwork and the ability to communicate effectively, clearly and concisely as a team leader or member of the group
• An ability to communicate ideas, concepts and solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences effectively, clearly and concisely
• An ability to carry out research and apply fundamental theoretical knowledge to problem solving in relevant disciplines

Computer Requirements: A PC with Windows operating system; 56k Modem for dial-up access, and a webcam.

Resources provided to distance students: Internet based IT framework (Learning Management System) with secured access facilitating interactions with other students and the subject coordinator/tutor and completion of academic exercises.